Abstract

Certain earth materials, most famously silica and asbestos, are harmful to humans and can induce systemic disease. Podoconiosis is a disease affecting a large population in Ethiopia. Existing etiological models invoke a link to the composition of specific local volcanic soils. Silica and aluminum-containing minerals are hypothesized to induce inflammation, leading to obstructions within the lymphatic system of the legs. Multivariate analyses of bedrock geochemistry from regions associated with podoconiosis suggest an association with rocks composed of high levels of alkalines and silica. Soil samples from 29 towns with and without cases of podoconiosis were collected from across Ethiopia. Geological analyses show elevated trace element concentrations, potentially adsorbed on ultrafine clays, in podoconiosis-associated soils. Immunological analyses reveal no significant difference between soil groups but show a different cell death mechanism for cells treated with soils compared to those treated with a silica control. Combined approaches suggest an alternative etiology of podoconiosis is necessary and indicates that use of the silicosis model for particle-cell interactions is not universally applicable.

LLU Discipline

Earth Sciences

Department

Earth and Biological Sciences

School

School of Medicine

First Advisor

Kevin E. Nick

Second Advisor

Benjamin L. Clausen

Third Advisor

Donn Gaede

Fourth Advisor

Kerby C. Oberg

Fifth Advisor

Kimberly J. Payne

Sixth Advisor

Christopher Perry

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2018

Date (Title Page)

6-2018

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Podoconiosis -- Etiology

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

242 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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